Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CIRCLEVILLE — There must be something in the air in Roundtown.
Circleville’s volleyball program made school history early last week. Friday was the football team’s turn to do the same.
Tiger fans had never seen it done before. And, all in all, Circleville had only done it once before in program history.
Make that twice now.
The Tigers (8-3) scored 24 unanswered points and used a pair of turnovers to make history, winning their first-ever home playoff victory — their second overall, ever — with a 31-14 final over Philo in Division IV, Region 15 action.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
“I think this is a great first round win for us. I’m glad the community got it. I’m glad these seniors and our football team got to enjoy it,” Circleville coach Jay Sharrett said. “Everybody knows football’s a long, long season. It’s a long season when you go 10 weeks. And now we’re going into Week 12. These guys deserve all the credit in the world for buying in and making this moment happen.”
The win marks the first playoff victory since 2007.
“When we started way back in March in the first weight room, I wasn’t really sure how many guys we were going to have, and they kept coming in and kept coming in,” Sharrett said. “From that moment to this moment, we’ve learned a lot along the way. Not just during the season, but during our camp in July, and during mandatory practice in August, in our scrimmages and each week, we’ve learned a little bit more. I think this team has done a great job. When you drop a ball game, like when Amanda came in and they just did some things blocking wise we hadn’t even coached yet, our guys didn’t get bitter. They got better, and kept working it, it, and kept working it, and kept working it.”
Philo (6-5) started with the football on Friday and Circleville’s defense made a huge play by forcing a fumble, recovered by Auri Travis. The Tigers then cashed in on the opportunity to set the tone when Hudson Phalin took the option and sprinted 24 yards up the sideline for a touchdown, making it 7-0.
The Tigers had the Electrics’ offense reeling early in the second as they faced 4th and 22. But they rolled the dice and Jack Linicomie connected with Aiden Mahon for a 31-yard touchdown to tie the game, 7-7.
However, it was all Tigers from that moment on.
PHOTOS: Images from Circleville’s playoff win over Philo
After punting, Circleville turned around and forced a second fumble. The Tigers turned that turnover into points when Ray Ezell went up the gut for a six-yard touchdown, making it 14-7 heading into halftime.
“I really love these seniors, and I want to give them the best experience they can possibly have for their last year,” Ezell said. “It all started back in the summer and I knew it was going to pay off back then. I had to get the job done in any way, shape or form for them. Huge credit to the offensive line as well. They put their bodies on the line every night and I love them for that.”
The Tigers continued to pour it on in the second half as a 27-yard field goal from Kaden Paxton, followed by a 13-yard touchdown run on the next drive from Ezell, made it 24-7.
“To take that [opening] drive and then to have our defense come out and play the way they did is huge,” Sharrett said. “And then to take that next drive and kind of get that two-and-a-half score lead, then you kind of relax a little bit and know that there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to win the game.”
Philo put together a drive in the fourth, trying anything to climb back into the game with less than eight minutes left. But a pass was intercepted in the end zone by Kole Nungester.
He was ultimately rewarded on the ensuing drive when he put the final nail in Philo’s season with a nine-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers ahead 31-7.
The Electrics scored a late touchdown when Linicomie and Mohan connected for a second time before time expired, sending the Tigers to the next round.
Ezell finished with nine carries for 114 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Tigers, while Phalin added 90 yards on 18 carries and a score. Nungester had 15 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Circleville advances to the second round and returns to action on Friday, traveling to play at defending state champion Indian Valley.
“As a senior, it feels really good to start the turn of the program here and help all of the underclassmen along the way,” Travis said. “We’re going to keep our heads down and keep working. This playoff winning feeling is great and hopefully we can take this, win in Week 12 and see where it takes us.”
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